The word "参加" is formed through the combination of two semantic components, or morphemes, that each contribute meaning to the whole. The first character, 参 (cān), carries connotations of "joining in", "entering", or "taking part", while the second, 加 (jiā), means "to add" or "to increase". When fused into a single word, their individual meanings blend metaphorically to create the compound concept of "to participate" or "to join", essentially picturing the act of adding oneself into an activity or group.